VIA Motors has signed a contract to deliver $20 million worth of plug-in pickup trucks and vans to over 50 participating fleets, as part of a DOE program that will evaluate vehicle performance and energy consumption. VIA will install proprietary technology into each vehicle that transmits real-time data to quantify improvements in fuel economy and emissions. The DOE plans to publish the data for use by government agencies, participating fleets and the general public.

The contract is administered by the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD), with the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) acting as project manager.

“Plug-in electric passenger vehicles are now becoming widely commercialized,” said SCAQMD’s Matt Miyasato. “Expanding the commercialization of near zero-emission vehicles to include pickups and cargo vans will drive us closer to our goal of a near-zero emission transportation sector.”

“The pickup truck is the number one selling vehicle in America and VIA Motors is the only automaker building electric light-duty pickup trucks, cargo vans and passenger vans,” noted VIA Motors President Alan Perriton. “The all-in cost is actually lower than driving a gas truck; this is very welcome news to budget-constrained fleets who spend more and more each year on ever-increasing gas prices, who can now save money and reduce their fleet emissions.”

According to VIA, the company’s electrified pickup trucks have demonstrated the potential to reduce gas consumption and emissions by up to 80% in beta testing with large fleet customers.

Source: VIA Motors